Author: openjargon

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bounced back yesterday after a flat few weeks. 

Australia’s benchmark index rose just over 1% during Tuesday’s trading session.

This sparked fresh 52-week highs for several well-known ASX shares. 

Here’s what experts are saying about these companies right now. 

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

Telstra shares rose another 2% yesterday to hit fresh 52-week highs of $5.52 per share. 

It has now climbed 13% year to date, as investors have pushed their chips in on defensive options like Telstra. 

It is considered a defensive stock because telecommunications services are essential, so customers tend to keep paying for mobile and internet plans even during economic downturns. 

Its large market share, recurring revenue, and relatively stable dividend payments also make earnings less volatile compared with more cyclical industries like mining or retail.

Following this recent share price rise, it appears that Telstra shares are close to fully valued. 

Catapult Wealth recently placed a hold recommendation on the company. 

Additionally, 13 analyst forecasts via TradingView indicate the current share price is 5% above fair value. 

QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE)

QBE shares rose 3% yesterday to hit a fresh 52-week high of $24 per share. 

It has now climbed 21% year to date. 

It has been one of the beneficiaries of rising interest rates. 

QBE is Australia’s second-largest international insurer. 

Insurers can benefit from interest rate rises because they invest premiums and earn more when yields rise.

With that being said, it now appears that QBE shares are approaching fair value. 

Macquarie recently downgraded QBE shares to a hold rating with a $25.10 price target. 

This indicates just 4% upside from current levels. 

Superloop Ltd (ASX: SLC)

Superloop is an Australian telecommunications and internet infrastructure company that provides broadband and NBN services, fibre networks and enterprise connectivity. 

Yesterday, its share price climbed 1.4% to hit a new 52 week high of $3.56. 

It has now risen almost 40% year to date. 

The share price rise has been driven by positive growth for the company. 

It recently reported a 21.2% increase in customers and a 23.3% lift in revenue compared to the prior year.

Despite these positive metrics, the company appears close to full valuation right now. 

Nathan Lodge from Securities Vault recently placed a hold rating on this ASX telecommunications share.

Furthermore, eight analyst ratings via TradingView have an average 12 month price target of $3.50 on Superloop shares. 

The post Are Telstra and these ASX shares a buy, hold or sell after hitting new yearly highs? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Bell Potter says this small-cap ASX share could rise 50%
• Why these ASX income stocks could be better than term deposits
• 136,191 shares of this high-yield ASX dividend stock pays an income equal to the Age Pension
• How to generate $20,000 a year in passive income on the ASX
• How to build a passive income stream with ASX shares

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Some share price falls are deserved.

A company misses expectations, the outlook weakens, or the market starts questioning whether its growth story still holds together.

But I do not think every sell-off should be treated the same way. Sometimes, good businesses fall out of favour and create a better entry point for patient investors.

Two ASX 200 shares I think could be worth a closer look after recent weakness are named in this article.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

CSL has been one of the biggest disappointments on the ASX over the past year.

The biotechnology giant has lost its premium rating following a series of underwhelming updates, guidance downgrades, and execution concerns.

There is no point pretending this is the same CSL that investors used to pay up for without hesitation. It is not. The company has work to do to rebuild trust and prove that earnings growth can become consistent again.

But I think the market may now be pricing in a very harsh outcome.

CSL still has valuable positions in plasma therapies, vaccines, and specialist medicines. Demand for many of its core products is supported by long-term healthcare needs, and the company still has a global scale that few competitors can match.

That is why I remain interested. I see CSL as more of a recovery story today than the classic compounder it used to be. But at a much lower valuation, I think that recovery potential could be meaningful for investors willing to wait.

The recovery may take time, and sentiment could remain weak for a while yet. But if CSL can stabilise earnings, improve execution, and restore confidence, I think today’s share price could look too cheap in hindsight.

James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX)

James Hardie Industries is another quality ASX 200 share that has been under pressure.

The building products giant is heavily exposed to the North American housing market, where higher interest rates and weaker renovation activity have weighed on sentiment.

That cycle has been uncomfortable. When housing activity slows, demand for exterior building products can soften, and earnings expectations can come under pressure.

But I do not think the long-term case has disappeared. James Hardie still has a strong position in fibre cement building materials, particularly in the United States. Its products are used in repair, renovation, and new construction, giving the company exposure to a large market that should recover over time.

I also like the fact that this is not a business starting from scratch. James Hardie has spent years building brand recognition, distribution, manufacturing scale, and customer relationships. Those advantages do not disappear just because the housing cycle is difficult.

In my view, the current weakness could be creating an opportunity to buy a high-quality building products company while expectations are low.

If interest rates eventually ease, renovation activity improves, and housing confidence returns, James Hardie could be well placed to benefit.

Foolish Takeaway

CSL and James Hardie shares are not obvious easy wins today.

Both businesses are dealing with real challenges, and neither may recover quickly. But I think the market may be too focused on the current disappointment and not focused enough on what these companies could look like in three to five years.

For patient investors, I think both ASX 200 shares could be too cheap to ignore.

The post 2 ASX 200 shares that could be too cheap to ignore appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 4 ASX All Ords shares tipped to rise 60% to 75%
• Should I invest $10,000 in CSL shares before the end of May?
• Why is the ASX 200 starting at a 7-week low today?
• Buy, hold, sell: James Hardie, NextDC, and WiseTech shares
• CSL shares crash, but is a comeback looming?

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in CSL. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB) shares have had a shocker of a week so far, plumbing new 12-month lows after the company significantly downgraded its outlook for the full year.

The question is, does that mean the shares are now going cheap, or is there more pain to come?

I’ve canvassed the views of three major brokers, and all believe there’s some upside in the share price from where Brambles shares are now, but they differ widely in their outlook.

I’ll get to their specific share price targets shortly. Firstly, let’s recap Brambles’ big announcement this week.

Major cost pressures

One of the main features of the announcement was that Brambles was having to spend more on repairing its pallets to bring them up to standard for customers who were increasingly automating their processes.

Brambles said it was progressively increasing its repair quality to meet this demand, which had contributed to creating a bottleneck.

The company said:

During April 2026, this focus on quality consistency has coincided with short-term repair capacity constraints in parts of Brambles’ US subcontractor service centre network which Brambles expects to be resolved by the end of 1H27. These short-term repair capacity constraints have been driven by subcontractor turnover, labour availability challenges and the additional time required to repair pallets consistently to a higher standard. At the same time as repair capacity tightened, Brambles experienced higher than anticipated customer demand.

Brambles said there was a “material” cost increase over the short term. The company said it was also buying another two million pallets in the fourth quarter, with more purchases expected early in FY27.

As a result of these various elements, Brambles downgraded its sales revenue growth forecast to 2% to 3%, down from 3% to 4%, and downgraded its underlying profit growth forecast to 3% to 5%, down from 8% to 11%.

Shares appear oversold

The team at Macquarie have run the ruler over the changes at Brambles and has reduced their price target on the shares from $23.35 to $18.60.

Macquarie said:

A need to invest incrementally in customer outcomes has been a concern for us. Resolving this issue presents ongoing earnings risks, especially if full mitigation requires price adjustment. We think multiples will remain pressured.

The team at Morgans came up with a similar share price target of $18.70.

They said the trading update was disappointing, while noting that Brambles’ US$400 million share buyback, also announced this week, would give the share price some support.

Morgan Stanley was an outlier among the brokers with a price target of $28 on Brambles shares.

They noted that cost headwinds should ease by the end of the first half of FY27, “though further demand spikes and subcontractor exits remain key risks”.

Brambles is valued at $23.74 billion.

The post After this week’s sell-down, is it time to buy Brambles shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Brambles shares crash 20% in worst fall in more than two decades
• Should investors buy low on these ASX shares hitting 52-week lows?
• Why A2 Milk, Brambles, Elders, and Tuas shares are sinking today
• Why is everyone talking about Elders, Brambles and New Hope shares on Monday?
• Why are Brambles shares crashing more than 15% to a new 12-month low today?

Motley Fool contributor Cameron England has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Investors are spoilt for choice when it comes to ASX ETFs. 

It seems like every month new options are coming onto the market. This allows investors to tap into broad based and thematic funds.

However three providers dominate the market: Vanguard, Betashares and iShares. 

As of April 2026, funds under management were: 

• Vanguard: $95.17b
• Betashares: $67.44b
• iShares: $57.79b. 

Today, the spotlight is on the best performing funds from iShares. 

This can be a great way to understand what themes, sectors, and regions have been driving returns. It can also help investors decide whether any of these ETFs deserve a place on your watch list.

iShares International Equity ETFs – iShares Msci South Korea ETF (ASX: IKO)

This ASX ETF has surged 170% in the last 12 months, making it the best performing fund from iShares in that span. 

The fund aims to provide investors with the performance of the MSCI Korea 25/50 Index.

The index is designed to measure the performance of Korean large and mid-capitalisation companies.

This ASX ETF has surged because it is heavily exposed to Korean semiconductor giants Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, which are benefiting from booming global demand for AI infrastructure and memory chips. 

Investors have also piled into Korean equities because valuations were far cheaper than US tech stocks, triggering a broad rerating of the Korean share market.

It’s no secret the ASX is thin when it comes to exposure to groundbreaking technology companies. 

This fund from iShares could be an ideal complement to add the backbone of the global memory chip/semiconductor industry to your portfolio. 

Another reason to add this fund to your portfolio would be to diversify away from Australian and US overexposure. 

iShares International Equity ETFs – iShares Asia 50 ETF (ASX: IAA)

It has been a similar story for this Asian equities focussed ASX ETF. 

The fund aims to provide investors with the performance of the S&P Asia 50 Index, before fees and expenses. The index is designed to measure the performance of 50 of the largest Asian companies domiciled in China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan. 

It has benefited from similar tailwinds to the previously listed, Korean focussed fund. 

Over the last 12 months, these tailwinds have driven a 56% rise for this ASX ETF. 

iShares Msci Emerging Markets Ex China ETF (ASX: EMXC)

Another high performing fund has been this emerging markets themed ETF. 

This ASX ETF aims to provide investors with the performance of the MSCI Emerging Markets ex China Index, before fees and expenses. 

The index is designed to measure the equity market performance in global emerging markets, excluding China.

It has attracted investors looking for emerging markets exposure without the risks tied to China, with strong performances from India, Taiwan, and South Korea helping drive returns higher.

It is up more than 40% in the last 12 months. 

The post Here are the 3 best performing iShares ASX ETFs over the last year appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• After surging nearly 200%, is this the best ASX ETF in 2026?
• 3 ASX ETFs that have raced ahead this year
• How to tap into Asia’s growth using ASX ETFs

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Building a $150,000 ASX portfolio can sound like a huge task.

But I think it becomes far more achievable when investors stop thinking about the full amount and start thinking about the process.

The goal is not to find one perfect share. It is to build a habit, choose quality assets, and give compounding enough time to work.

Here is how I would approach it.

Start with a simple core

The first step is to build a core holding.

For many investors, I think that could mean starting with a broad exchange-traded fund (ETF) such as the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS), iShares S&P 500 AUD ETF (ASX: IVV), or Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS).

These ETFs can provide instant diversification across many companies, sectors, and geographies.

That is useful because beginners do not need to decide immediately whether a bank, miner, retailer, healthcare stock, or technology company will be the best performer.

They can own a broad basket and let the market do some of the work.

I would not overcomplicate this stage. A simple ETF core can give the portfolio a strong foundation while the investor keeps learning.

Add quality ASX shares over time

Once the core is in place, I would start adding individual ASX shares.

This is where investors can tilt the portfolio toward businesses they want to own for many years.

For me, the focus would be on quality. That means strong market positions, sensible balance sheets, reliable earnings, and long growth runways.

Examples could include companies such as Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD), Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA), or Goodman Group (ASX: GMG).

I would not rush to buy everything at once.

A $150,000 portfolio can be built piece by piece. Buying periodically also reduces the pressure of trying to time the market perfectly.

Some purchases will look early. Some will look well timed. Over a decade, the bigger driver is usually whether the investor kept buying quality assets and stayed invested.

Reinvest the income

Dividends can make a big difference.

At first, they may not feel very exciting. A small portfolio might only generate a few dollars or a few hundred dollars of income each year.

But reinvested dividends can help buy more shares, which can then generate more dividends in future years.

That is one reason I like ASX shares for long-term wealth building. Many Australian companies have a strong dividend culture, and reinvesting those payments can quietly add to compounding.

Let the portfolio mature

A $150,000 portfolio will not be built overnight unless someone already has a large amount of capital.

But regular investing can get the job done.

For example, investing $500 a month at an average annual return of 9% would grow to around $150,000 in just over 13 years. That return is not guaranteed, and markets will not move in a straight line.

Still, the maths shows why consistency is so powerful.

The key is to keep going through good markets and bad ones.

Foolish Takeaway

I think building a $150,000 ASX portfolio is less about doing something dramatic and more about repeating a sensible plan.

Start with a diversified core, add quality ASX shares over time, reinvest the income, and let compounding build momentum.

There will be pullbacks, bad headlines, and moments when cash feels safer. But investors who keep buying good assets through those periods give themselves a real chance of turning a modest starting point into a meaningful portfolio.

The post How to build a $150,000 ASX share portfolio from scratch appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 of the best ASX ETFs to buy and hold
• 4 ASX 200 shares tipped to jump another 50% to 60%
• Why Wesfarmers could be one of the best blue-chip shares to buy
• Why this fallen ASX 200 blue chip could be a strong buy
• 5 ASX shares that could bounce back in the second half of 2026

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goodman Group, Macquarie Group, ResMed, Wesfarmers, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Goodman Group, Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF, Wesfarmers, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It’s been a red hot 2026 for ASX energy stock New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC). 

New Hope shares climbed a further 3% yesterday, and are now up 50% over the last 12 months. 

New Hope is an Australian thermal coal miner. It has two operating mines: the 100%-owned New Acland coal mine in the Darling Downs, Queensland and its 80%-owned Bengalla coal mine in New South Wales.

Another great week 

On Monday, this ASX energy stock released a quarterly report.

It reported: 

• Group ROM coal production: 4.26Mt, up 5.0% on the previous quarter
• Saleable coal production: 3.01Mt, up 8.7% quarter-on-quarter
• Total coal sales: 3.20Mt, a 10.4% quarterly lift
• Average realised sales price: $140.7/t, up 1.2% from prior quarter
• Underlying EBITDA: $130.1 million, up 21.7% from the previous quarter
• Available cash: $571.6 million at quarter end. 

Investors have been reacting positively to these results. This ASX energy stock is up 6% across two days of trading this week. 

Bell Potter weighs in 

Following these results, the team at Bell Potter issued an updated report on this ASX energy stock. 

The broker noted FY26 revised guidance was reiterated and group production and sales are tracking towards the upper end of the ranges provided. 

Coal production was 3.0 million tonnes, above Bell Potter’s forecast of 2.7 million tonnes.

The broker also said New Hope strengthened its balance sheet through a $300 million refinancing, while noting that any diesel cost increases from Middle East tensions could potentially be offset by stronger coal prices and demand.

NHC’s diesel providers have reassured supply in the short term. Around 20% of NHC’s overall cost base is diesel price related. In the event of a prolonged Middle East conflict, diesel cost impacts could be more than offset by stronger thermal coal demand and prices as coal is substituted for disrupted LNG supply.

Based on this guidance, Bell Potter updated its assumptions for coal prices and the Australian dollar, leading to earnings forecast changes:

• FY26 earnings forecast cut by 17%
• FY27 forecast raised by 19%
• FY28 forecast raised by 12%. 

Limited upside 

Following recent share price growth, the team at Bell Potter now sees this ASX energy stock as a hold. 

The broker now has a $5 price target on New Hope shares, which indicates a 9% downside from the current share price of $5.51. 

NHC’s low-cost operations will continue to underpin margins through the coal price cycle, funding capital expenditure commitments and supporting shareholder returns. Beyond ramp-up of New Acland Stage 3, we see a limited organic production growth pipeline and believe NHC may participate in industry consolidation.

The post Why it could be time to move on from this booming ASX energy stock appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• What is Morgans saying about Megaport and New Hope shares
• Why Elders, New Hope, Pro Medicus, and Tuas shares are storming higher today
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why is everyone talking about Elders, Brambles and New Hope shares on Monday?
• This ASX 200 coal stock is charging higher after a big profit jump

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Buy and hold investing is one of the best ways to grow wealth in the share market.

That’s because it allows investors to leverage the power of compounding, which is what happens when you generate returns on top of returns.

But if you’re not a fan of stock picking, don’t worry because exchange traded funds (ETFs) are here to save the day.

They allow investors to buy large groups of shares in one fell swoop. This eliminates the need to buy individual stocks.

With that in mind, listed below are two ASX ETFs that could be worth considering for the long term. Here’s what they offer investors:

Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)

The first ASX ETF with strong long-term potential is the popular Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF.

This fund focuses on large technology companies across Asia, giving investors exposure to digital growth outside the United States.

That could be important because Asia’s technology sector has its own drivers. It includes ecommerce platforms, semiconductor leaders, digital payments, online services, and companies tied to rising consumption across large populations.

Among its holdings are the likes of Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (NYSE: TSM), Samsung Electronics, and WeChat owner Tencent Holdings (SEHK: 700).

The fund will not always move in line with US technology ETFs. That can make it a more volatile option at times, but also gives investors exposure to a different set of opportunities.

It was recently recommended by analysts at Betashares.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

Another ASX ETF to consider as a buy and hold investment is the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF.

This fund is one of the broadest options available to investors on the Australian share market.

It provides exposure to over 1,000 stocks from developed markets around the world, including the United States, Europe, Japan, and other major economies.

Among its holdings are household names such as iPhone maker Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), software leader Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), luxury giant LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, and food behemoth Nestle (SWX: NESN).

That breadth is its strength. The Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF can act as a simple way to participate in global equity market growth without needing to decide which country, sector, or theme will lead next.

For investors looking for a core global ETF to hold for a decade or more, it arguably remains one of the cleanest options on the ASX.

The post 2 of the best ASX ETFs to buy and hold appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Expert names 1 ASX ETF to buy and 1 to hold
• 3 Vanguard ETFs for Australian investors to build wealth by 2036
• How much $500 a month could become with ASX shares
• These ASX ETFs are smashing record highs 
• Why Aussie investors are pouring into international ASX ETFs

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Betashares Capital – Asia Technology Tigers Etf. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Apple, Baidu, Microsoft, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, and Tencent. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Lvmh Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton, Société Européenne and Nestlé. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Apple, Microsoft, and Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) enjoyed a strong recovery day this Tuesday, lifting the value of many ASX shares over the session.

After yesterday’s nasty loss to start the week, investors were clearly more optimistic today, with the ASX 200 starting in the green and remaining consistent until market close. By that time, the index had finished with a 1.17% rise to 8,604.7 points.

This happy trading day for the local markets comes after a mixed start to the American trading week on Wall Street last night.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in a good mood, rising 0.32%.

However, things were different on the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC), which fell 0.51%.

But let’s get back to the ASX now and take stock of how the different ASX sectors navigated today’s fair trading conditions.

Winners and losers

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 4 ASX 200 shares tipped to jump another 50% to 60%
• ASX 200 charges higher as buyers return after Monday’s sell-off
• Buy, hold, sell: Endeavour and these popular ASX shares
• 3 ASX shares down 70% that could be cheap buys
• Why Elders, New Hope, Pro Medicus, and Tuas shares are storming higher today

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, Steadfast Group, and Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Steadfast Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Aub Group, Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, Pro Medicus, and Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Analysts at Ord Minnett have been running the rule over a number of ASX 200 shares this month.

Does the broker rate them as buys, holds, or sells? Let’s take a look:

Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN)

This mining and mining services company recently delivered a strong quarterly update, with volumes across iron ore, lithium, and mining services all exceeding the broker’s expectations.

This has ultimately seen Ord Minnett boost its earnings estimates for FY 2026 and FY 2028.

However, due to significant strength in its share price, the broker has downgraded Mineral Resources shares to an accumulate rating (from buy) with an improved price target of $67.00. It said:

Post the result, we have incorporated actuals, a lower cost of debt and higher operating costs. Across the forecast horizon, this leads to a 3.3% upgrade in our EPS estimate for FY26, a cut of 7.3% for FY27, and an increase of 4.7% in FY28. As a result, we raise our target price on Mineral Resources to $67.00 from $65.00 but downgrade our recommendation to Accumulate from Buy on valuation grounds given the stock’s almost 20% surge in April.

Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG)

Ord Minnett sees more value in Sigma shares.

In response to news that the Chemist Warehouse owner is expanding into the UK market, it has retained its buy rating on its shares with an improved price target of $3.40.

Commenting on the expansion, the broker said:

Chemist Warehouse will enter the UK market via a JV with GreenLight, a British pharmacy group founded in 1999 with 22 stores across Greater London. Phase 1 of the agreement to focus on five initial stores with Sigma set to acquire a 75% interest in each, while GreenLight leverages Chemist Warehouse’s intellectual property (IP) and retail support.

It is, in effect, only a pilot operation at this stage, but we see the UK opportunity as significant it is a large and fragmented market – more than 13,000 pharmacies, with Boots being the No.1 player with 13% share and independents making up 29%. The traditional UK pharmacy model is also under stress, with around 47% of stores making losses at the operating earnings (EBITDA) line, and the industry exhibits only limited retail innovation given a strong dispensary skew. We raise our target price on Sigma to $3.40 from $3.30 and reiterate our Buy recommendation.

Ventia Services Group Ltd (ASX: VNT)

A third ASX share that Ord Minnett has been looking at is infrastructure services company Ventia Services.

It was pleased to see management recently reaffirm its expectation for its operating earnings margin to at least match what it achieved in 2025.

Ord Minnett expects management to deliver on this and then expects further expansion through to 2030.

However, this is not quite enough for a buy recommendation. The broker has retained its accumulate rating with an improved price target of $6.10. It said:

Ventia noted costs related to redundancies from some lost defence work and the end of a NSW schools contract would weigh on first-half CY26 results although management was confident its operating earnings margin (EBITDA) would at least match the 8.7% booked in CY25 given efficiency savings and a concentration on winning work in the above-mentioned higher-margin markets.

We have raised our forecast for EBITDA margins to 8.8% in CY26 before expanding to more than 9% by CY30 as its business mix improves. ‍ Post the investor day, we have trimmed our CY26 EPS estimate by 0.7%, while our CY27 and CY28 forecasts rise by 1.6% and 4%, respectively, which leads us to raise our target price on Ventia to $6.10 from $6.05. We maintain our Accumulate recommendation.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Ventia, Sigma, and Mineral Resources shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Technology One, Megaport and Mineral Resources shares are turning heads on Tuesday
• Up 167% in a year, here’s why this ASX 200 lithium stock is rising again
• 3 reasons to buy Sigma Healthcare shares today
• Buy, hold, sell: ResMed, Sigma, and TechnologyOne shares
• A long-term contract win is lifting this ASX 200 stock today

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

A massive artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure buildout is underway across the world today.

James Gerrish from Shaw and Partners says Amazon, Microsoft, Google parent, Alphabet, and Facebook parent, Meta Platforms, are the hyperscalers of AI, and they plan to spend a combined $725 billion on AI development this year alone.

In a recent Market Matters newsletter, Gerrish said:

All four companies appear to be following the same narrative – the cost of falling behind in AI is greater than the risk of overspending.

Gerrish noted that 70% to 75% of this capex spending was going to AI infrastructure.

AI infrastructure includes GPUs, custom silicon, data centres, networking, and the energy and cooling systems required to run them.

This is a clear shift beyond traditional cloud computing capex, Gerrish said.

Gerrish provided an assessment and guidance on three ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to the AI infrastructure buildout.

Here are his thoughts.

Global X Semiconductor ETF (ASX: SEMI)

The ASX SEMI is $35.47 apiece, down 2.3% on Tuesday and up 51% in the year to date (YTD).

Semiconductors control electrical currents in devices like computer chips and smartphones.

Gerrish said:

In simple terms, no AI model gets trained, no data centre gets built, and no smart device gets made without the chips SEMI’s holdings produce, making it the most direct play on the raw computing power driving the entire AI buildout.

If the AI buildout continues to accelerate, this is where the capex flows first.

The ETF holds 31 global stocks, with more than 60% exposure to US names, positioning it at the pointy end of the AI infrastructure cycle.

It has already delivered ~36% in 2026, and we see scope for further upside, provided hyperscaler spending remains robust.

The world’s biggest semiconductor manufacturer, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, and semiconductor designers Broadcom and Nvidia are among this ETF’s largest holdings.

In terms of a buy-in price, Gerrish said he was bullish on this ASX ETF at about $31 apiece:

We like the SEMI ETF through 2026, but from a risk/reward perspective, would leave some flexibility to add into the next ~$3-4 pullback.

VanEck FTSE Global Infrastructure (Hedged) ETF (ASX: IFRA)

IFRA ETF is $25.19 apiece, up 1.2% today and up 8% YTD.

Gerrish said:

The IFRA ETF gives ASX investors diversified exposure to the world’s essential infrastructure operators, electric utilities, toll roads, pipelines, airports and rail networks across developed markets.

It can be considered the boring backbone of the AI buildout, with every data centre needing a power grid, and IFRA owns the companies that run them.

However, the returns over the last year haven’t been particularly boring, with the ETF up more than +16%.

The ETF holds about 150 stocks with more than 70% exposure to the US and Canada.

The ASX ETF’s top holding is Australian toll road operator Transurban Group (ASX: TCL).

Gerrish added:

It’s arguably less sexy than the pure AI plays, but increasingly relevant, data centres require enormous amounts of electricity, cooling, and physical construction.

The more AI adoption accelerates, the more demand rises for the heavy industries that support it.

For good measure, the ETF is also forecast to yield almost 3% over the coming 12-months.

Gerrish said he is bullish and ‘long’ on this ASX ETF, and it is held in the Market Matters’ Core ETF portfolio.

Global X Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure ETF (ASX: AINF)

AINF ETF is $17.44 apiece, down 2.5% today and up 17% YTD.

Gerrish said:

AINF arguably offers the purest exposure among the four ETFs looked at today, providing targeted access to the physical backbone of AI, spanning energy, data and materials infrastructure.

This includes copper and uranium producers, utilities and engineering firms, effectively everything required to build and power the data centres underpinning AI’s global expansion.

Only launched in April 2025, the AINF was the first ASX-listed fund targeting the physical buildout of AI, and it has delivered a strong ~20% return in 2026.

The AINF ETF invests in 31 stocks with about 50% exposure to the US market.

The largest positions are Delta Electronics Inc, GE Vernova Inc, and Vertiv Holdings Co.

In terms of value, Gerrish said he was bullish on this ASX ETF below $18:

We like this ETF moving forward, but from a risk/reward perspective, we would leave room to average into dips below $17.

The post Best 3 ASX ETFs to leverage massive artificial intelligence buildout appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are 3 ASX ETFs for smart investors to buy
• Why US earnings is good news for artificial intelligence ETFs: Expert
• These ASX ETFs are smashing record highs 
• Why Aussie investors are pouring into international ASX ETFs
• 3 ASX ETFs that have raced ahead this year

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Broadcom, GE Vernova, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Transurban Group, and Vertiv. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.